The senior business development manager has a knack for building relationships, connecting patients to innovative care.
Medical technology keeps raising the bar, bringing more hope and help for patients every day. But innovations only work when patients and referring care teams know they exist. That’s where Senior Business Development Manager, Carol Foss, RN, comes in.
Medical technology keeps raising the bar, bringing more hope and help for patients every day. But innovations only work when patients and referring care teams know they exist. That’s where Senior Business Development Manager, Carol Foss, RN, comes in.When you talk to Carol, it’s clear: her passion is connecting people to ensure patients throughout Puget Sound get the best care possible.
When patients require a higher level of care, such as a clot-busting stroke thrombectomy, a transfer to the closest capable hospital can save crucial time and brain function, Carol explains. But for physicians, EMS clinicians and other care teams to decide to send their patient to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (PRMCE), they need to know what the medical center can provide, and most importantly, trust the teams taking over care for their patients – that doesn’t happen automatically.
“It’s not just about us having the clinical capabilities,” Carol says. “It’s about referral hospitals and clinicians having the knowledge and relationships with us—otherwise care teams may not use our specialists and programs.”
Carol works hard to foster those relationships. Her approach is rooted in respect: be a good neighbor, acknowledge the excellent work happening by care teams at nearby hospitals, and nurture two-way connections among physicians to build trust. Once those connections form, she educates care teams about the complex surgical and specialty procedures and capabilities PRMCE and its cadre of specialty physicians have to offer—and more importantly, how to access care for their patients when it matters most.
When asked what keeps her going after nearly 35 years in this line of work, Carol says she finds satisfaction in helping people find the right care across Providence Swedish’s network of physician groups throughout the Puget Sound.
“Helping people, giving them choices and faster access closer to home—that’s extremely satisfying to me,” Carol says.
Carol’s roots run deep in the community she serves, both figuratively and literally. She’s passionate about her small collection of rhododendrons and spending time with her family at her Clearview home. As an alumna of Snohomish High, Everett Community College, University of Washington and Seattle Pacific, Carol has seen care come full circle in her long nursing career.
“It used to be I was taking care of the parents of the kids I went to school with—now it’s my classmates needing care,” Carol shares. “This is my hometown. These are my friends and neighbors.”
Carol’s relationships have blossomed into generous support for the medical center as well. Recently, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Prabhat Bhama and his wife Patrica, who works as an advanced nurse practitioner, made a generous gift to the Providence General Foundation in honor of Carol. They made the donation as a token of thanks for Carol’s steadfast stewardship of the specialty services at the medical center.
“I am humbled and inspired by the Bhama’s philanthropy,” Carol says. “They both set a high standard and are committed to giving back to the communities that they serve.
What the Bhama family describes as a small gesture of gratitude is a testament to the relationships that make Providence Swedish special—and a reminder that even in the age of technology, our connections with one another are just as vital as any innovation.
